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awkaward collocates
Hi
Can you give some examples of awkward collates that you've seen or heard of ? And some statement on why they were awkward too.
I think that this question is a very technical question on the finer points of grammar. Sometimes when you are doing something, that is very obscure, do you sometimes ask yourself?: Am I barking up the wrong tree?
What do you mean by "awkward collations"? Do you have any examples? Does such a thing exist? I have come across this meaning of the word 'collation' that might be helpful: In textual criticism and bibliography, collation is the reading of two (or more) texts side-by-side in order to note their differences. ++++++ Normally, when someone collates, the pages that they are photocopying, they put the pages in order. So, 'awkward collations' suggests that there is something wrong with the order in which things have been put. Grammar is all about the order in which words appear. ++++++ Defining your words: awkward awk·ward (ôkwrd) adj. 1. Not graceful; ungainly. 2. a. Not dexterous; clumsy. b. Clumsily or unskillfully performed: The opera was marred by an awkward aria. 3. a. Difficult to handle or manage: an awkward bundle to carry. b. Difficult to effect; uncomfortable: an awkward pose. 4. a. Marked by or causing embarrassment or discomfort: an awkward remark; an awkward silence. b. Requiring great tact, ingenuity, skill, and discretion: An awkward situation arose during the peace talks. Defining the Words: Collate col·late (k-lt, klt, klt) tr.v. col·lat·ed, col·lat·ing, col·lates 1. To examine and compare carefully in order to note points of disagreement. 2. To assemble in proper numerical or logical sequence. 3. Printing a. To examine (gathered sheets) in order to arrange them in proper sequence before binding. b. To verify the order and completeness of (the pages of a volume). 4. Ecclesiastical To admit (a cleric) to a benefice.
Sorry, I misunderstood you question
Look at this website. http://www.sil.org/Linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsACollocate.htm What is a Collocate?
What is a collocate?
What's a "collocate"? Collocates are the words which occur in the neighbourhood of your search word. Collocates of letter might include post, stamp, envelope, etc. However, very common words like the will also collocate with letter. The point of it… By examining the collocates you can find out more about "the company the word keeps", which helps to show its meaning and its usage. http://www.lexically.net/downloads/version4/html/index.html?collocation_basics.htm
<I think that this question is a very technical question on the finer points of grammar. >
It's not grammar, but lexis.
Very common words like {the} will also collocate with {letter}.
In the original: {the} and {letter} were in italics. When they are not in 'italics', it does not make much sense. So Collocates of the word: LETTER Include words like: POST STAMP ENVELOPE THE This whole topic reminds me of a song. Louis Armstrong "What a Wonderful World" I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself, what a wonderful world People do not normally talk about 'Green Trees'. So, by using the word 'Green', he is introducing a slightly unusual element. He is doing the opposite of using a collocate. The collocate would be 'green' grass, or 'brown' trees
Examples.
Good collocation: a breath of fresh air an open-air restaurant he has a permanent disability make a phonecall two and a half thousand "awkward collocation": a breath of open air a fresh-air restaurant his disability is forever do a phonecall two and a half hundred
And here, in Italian:
"Instances of incorrect collocation in Italian, as in any other language, which most likely derive from an act of literal translation, are potentially infinite. I will mention only a few. In Italian we don’t ‘walk the dog’, instead we say: ‘Vado a fare una passeggiata con il cane.’ = (literally) I go for a stroll with the dog. Similarly, instead of ‘making friends’, in Italian we say ‘fare amicizia’ = (literally) make friendship. We don’t have a ‘job interview’, but a ‘colloquio di lavoro’, which literally translates as a job conversation." http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate.english/Facchinello.htm
So, an awkward collocation:
Are words that do not go together. People say "fresh air", they don't say "open air". {Open air} would mean something entirely different. It is a bit like "Heavy Water" It is not a normal expression, and when it is used, it means a very special type of water. <<Heavy water is a loose term which usually refers to deuterium oxide>>
I had a look at the article on
http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate.english/Facchinello.htm I can see how awkward collocations arise. Many Thanks.
M56, that is an interesting article. It reminded me of a time in my Russian class when the teacher asked us to translate a sentence, and the correct translation had a much simpler construction than what any of us guessed.
<M56, that is an interesting article. It reminded me of a time in my Russian class when the teacher asked us to translate a sentence, and the correct translation had a much simpler construction than what any of us guessed. >
Collocation is very important in language learning. |